I have scoliosis? What's going to happen?!
Question: I got my back checked today at school (7th grade), and I'm going to the doctor when we receive the letter .
What is the doctor going to do?
Answers: I got my back checked today at school (7th grade), and I'm going to the doctor when we receive the letter .
What is the doctor going to do?
The doctor will take a look at your back checking for the usual scoliosis symptoms. He will most likely also take xrays of your back and measure your curve (the Cobb angle). Once that's done, he'll recommend what to do.
Here's a little info on scoliosis treatment.
If you have a curve that is giving you trouble, you will need to see a scoliosis specialist. Any doctor that doesn't have a scoliosis specialty doesn't have the expertise to treat scoliosis.
Any curve under 10 degrees is considered normal and probably isn't monitored.
Curves from 10-25 degrees are mild but should be monitored, especially if you're still growing.
Curves from 25-40 degrees are moderate with bracing possible. You will need monitoring, especially if you're still growing.
Surgery may be recommended if your curve doesn't respond to bracing. Bracing will do no good if you're through growing. The purpose of a brace isn't to make your curve better, but rather to keep the curve from becoming worse.
Curves greater than 45 degrees is major. Surgery may be recommended. This depends on many things, but whether you're done growing, whether your curve is increasing, whether your heart and lungs are in danger of being squeezed by your curve, whether you're in pain, quality of life, etc.
Unfortunately, nothing can *fix* structural scoliosis. Surgery can keep the curve from getting worse, and in most cases, will reduce the curve but most likely your spine won't be straight (unless you are very flexible in the area to be fused, then you might be lucky). There are cases where the surgery is less invasive than other cases, but having the usual posterior incision isn't too bad.
Chiropractors, message therapists, acupuncturists, etc., can't fix structural scoliosis. These people adjust the soft, connective tissues and that may (or may not, you can't tell ahead of time) make you feel better, but remember, structural scoliosis is not a connective tissue disease. Your spine is growing curved.
Oh, and hope you're feeling better :D Report It
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